Lai reaffirms support for independence

CROSS-STRAIT POLICY:While advocating goodwill toward China, the premier said he stands by his principle of supporting Taiwanese independence whatever office he holds

By Sean Lin / Staff reporter

Premier William Lai delivers a report and answers lawmakers’ questions in the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday.

Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times

Taiwan is a sovereign nation whose official title is the Republic of China, Premier William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, adding that “the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are independent of each other.”

Lai made the remarks when asked to clarify his cross-strait policy during a question-and-

answer session at the legislature with People First Party Legislator Chen Yi-chieh (陳怡潔).

When asked whether his cross-strait policy of “showing an affinity toward China while loving Taiwan” contradicts President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) policy of maintaining the “status quo,” Lai said it does not.

“Showing an affinity toward China while loving Taiwan is based on a Taiwan-centric perspective, whereby we extend a hand of friendship to convey goodwill,” Lai said.

“Hopefully, through exchanges, the two sides will be able to improve mutual understanding, reconciliation and forgiveness, thereby achieving peaceful development,” he said.

The premier added that he would follow Tsai’s policy for Taiwan and China to engage in mutually beneficial collaboration and continue to convey goodwill, while not yielding to political pressure.

Asked whether he felt he had a responsibility to improve cross-strait ties, Lai said he believes Taiwan and China should work together, since they have common goals, as well as common “enemies.”

These common enemies include typhoons, AIDS and pandemics, while their common goals should be set with the intent of improving the welfare of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, which underpins cross-strait exchanges, Lai said.

Asked about China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zijun (張志軍) comment that he did not have any expectations upon learning that Lai had been named premier, Lai said: “Taiwan is a sovereign nation. Its goal is to serve the best interests of people on both sides [of the Strait]. We need not subject ourselves to a framework imposed by a superpower and there is absolutely no reason to care about certain people’s remarks.”

“As I said before at the Tainan City Council, I am without a doubt a politician who supports Taiwanese independence. I will never change this stance no matter what office I hold,” Lai said.

His support for independence does not contradict his “affinity” remark, he added.

Lin asked Lai whether Tsai is considering reforming the nation’s semi-presidential system with her pledge to form a government whose power is proportionate to its accountability when she unveiled plans to push for constitutional reforms on Sunday.

He also asked Lai whether constitutional reforms espoused by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would involve changing the nation’s title and territory, since the Constitution, promulgated in Nanjing in 1947, includes China as the ROC’s territory.

Lai said that constitutional reforms must be carried out on the strength of public opinion, which would shape the reforms, so it is unnecessary to become overly worried about the issues brought up by Lin.

The government would value draft constitutional amendments tendered by the KMT, he added.

Lai also reaffirmed the DPP administration’s resolve to achieve a “nuclear-free homeland” by 2025.